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Day 95 Acts 2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 Suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 There were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 When this sound occurred, the multitude came together, confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 How is it we hear each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans, and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?" 13 Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.” 14 Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 ‘It will come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 On My menservants and on My maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath: blood, fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. 21 It will come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.’ 22 Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— 23 Him being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. 25 For David says concerning Him: ‘I foresaw the LORD always before my face, for He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. 26 Therefore, my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; moreover, my flesh also will rest in hope. 27 For You will not leave my soul in Hades, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of joy in Your presence.’ 29 Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore, being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, 35 till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’” 36 Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you, to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day, about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. How do you react to something you never heard before, never saw before, something that before then seemed impossible? Do you bring accusations? Do you demand proof that what you heard is real and could happen even though you see and hear it? The mind grapples with the incomprehensible, demanding an explanation. Pentecost was a traditional feast among the Jewish people when Jews gathered from every country where they lived and came to Jerusalem. It was commonly known as the Feast of Weeks. Deuteronomy 16:9 “You will count seven weeks for yourself; begin to count the seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the grain. 10 Then you will keep the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you will give as the LORD your God blesses you. 11 You will rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite who is within your gates, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow who are among you, at the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide.” 16 “Three times a year all your males will appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they will not appear before the LORD empty-handed.” Jerusalem was bursting at the seams because every Jewish man had come to Jerusalem to observe the Feast of Weeks. The Holy Spirit descended on the people gathered in the Upper Room with cloves of fire and they spoke in tongues so that everyone could hear them speak in their own language. The people gathered for the feast did not understand what took place until Peter told them what had recently taken place regarding Jesus of Nazareth. When the people heard what happened, the Holy Spirit convicted their hearts, and they asked what they should do? Peter told them to repent and be baptized. Then they too would receive the Holy Spirit. Three thousand people believed it and were baptized. They rejoiced in their salvation and did what the apostles told them to do with gladness. As Christians, you know the account of Pentecost and how the Holy Spirit came on the people. Yet do you believe the Holy Spirit can do the same for you today? Many churches teach that this was a one-time deal. They lead people to believe that everything that took place in the early church stayed with that time and ended with the death of the apostles. God is not a one and done God. What He did for the people on the first Pentecost, He continues to do today. 1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant. 2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore, I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 There are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. If you accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord, the same gifts the Holy Spirit poured out on the day of Pentecost, are the same gifts alive in you. He will work the same way for you if you allow Him to work for you. Then you will preach the Word with boldness as Peter did and people will either accept or reject what you tell them. The Holy Spirit will bring conviction to every heart for salvation. You only need to open your mouth. The Holy Spirit will do the rest. Three thousand people accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord with gladness when Peter preached the first sermon to a willing audience. If the Holy Spirit could do that then, He will do it now. Open your mouth and watch the Holy Spirit work in you. Let’s pray: Father, open my mouth. Let joy and gladness fill my heart as Your Word bursts forth to everyone who will listen and bring salvation to everyone You determined from the foundation of the world. Use me, Lord. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 19 October 2023 by Valerie Routhieaux The image belongs to me.